Guiyang school explained

The Guiyang school (also read Weiyang School^[1]) is one of the schools of Chan Buddhism.

History

The Guiyang school was the first established house of the Five Houses of Chán.^[2] Guiyang is named after master Guishan Lingyou (771–854) and his disciple, Yangshan Huiji (813–890).

Guishan was a disciple of Baizhang Huaihai, the Chan master whose disciples included Huangbo Xiyun, who in turn taught Linji Yixuan, founder of the Linji school.^[3] After founding the Guiyang School, Yangshan moved his school to what is now modern Jiangxi.

The Guiyang school is distinct from the other schools in many ways, notably in its use of esoteric metaphors and imagery in the school's kōans and other teachings.^[2]

Absorption into the Linji school

Over the course of Song Dynasty (960–1279), the Guiyang school, along with the Fayan and Yunmen schools were absorbed into the Linji school. Xuyun attempted to revive these absorbed lineages and succeeded in the case of the Guiyang school.

Notes and References

1. See, e.g., Book: Hsing Yun . Infinite Compassion, Endless Wisdom: The Practice of the Bodhisattva Path. Hsing Yun . 2009. Buddha's Light Publishing . 978-1-932293-36-4 . 37 . August 9, 2012 .
2. Book: Ferguson . Andrew E. . Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings . 2000 . Wisdom Publications . Somerville MA . 0-86171-163-7 . 126–127.
3. Ven. Jian Hu. "Buddhism in the Modern World" Stanford University, May 25, 2006, p. 1